VENERABLE BRETHREN AND BELOVED SONS
The Church Militant of Jésus Christ, which in the highest degree gives prosperity and soundness of condition to the human race, is so tried in the wretched state of the présent times, that, falling from storm into storm, as days succeed each other, she may well recall to memory the Bark on the Sea of Genesareth, bearing indeed Christ, the Lord, and His disciples, but fearfully tossed by winds and waves.
In every deed, they, in numbers, in the powers they seek to combine, and in the insolence of their designs, are puffed up beyond example, who are making war on the very name of Catholic. Nor does it suiîice for them to abjure the heavenly doctrines, but with force and violence they strive, either to repel the Church altogether from the civil commerce of men ; or, at least, to render null her power on the public life of peoples. Whence is found how, in performing the o})ligation she received from hei Divine Author, she finds herself, and ever more and more, hampered and hindered by great embarrassments.
The bitterest results of this criminal conspiracy fall, in an especial manner, on the Roman Pontiff.
 shadow of régal majesty is left himT as a robe oï mockery ; but he is displaced from his legitimate rights, and trammelled in a multitude of ways in discharging his most important fonctions. Wherefore we, plaeed by Divine Providence in this highest place of the sacred powery and bound to provide for the whole Church, hâve long felt, and often saidy how harsh and misérable is the condition into which we hâve been forced. It is not our wish to give détails ; but every one knows what has been perpetrated in this, Our City, (TJkbe Nostrà). For hère, in the very Centre of Catholic Truth, the holiness of Religion is derided, and the dignity of the Àpostolic See is wounded, and the Pontifical Majesty is subjected to insults ever recurring~by corrupt men. Our rights are robbed of many beneficent Institutions held by our Predecessors, by pious .endowments7 and transmitted by them, from Successor to Successor, to be held as sacred trusts,
They hâve not stopped short of invading the rights of the Insi tutcfor the Propagation of the Christian Ret g ion ; which, not only on religious account. but as deserving well of men as men, no previous prevailing force ever had violated. We see not a few Catholic churches closed, or profaned ; heretical rites multiplied ; wicked doctrines spread, without censure, by writings, and by speech, Those who hold sovereign power often give aid to the enactment of laws hurtful to the Church and to the Catholic name ; and that, in our very présence, whose every care, by the eommand of God Himself, ought to be to watch over the safety of the Chrisian Commonwealth, and the integrity of the Church's rights.
But paying no regard to that power to teach that rests in the Roman PontifF, they shut oi our authority from the very éducation of youth ; and if it is permitted us — as it is forbidden to no private person — to open at our own expense schools for the educa-
lion of youth, the civil laws, by force and violence invade even thèse.
We are much the more deeply troubled at the sad sight of thèse things, because the means of corn ing to the rescue, which we wouid exceedingly wish, are not at hand.
And that very usage of liberty yielded us, lias not a solid and sure resting basis, since it may be crippled or altogether taken away by the will of another,
By the practices that are in vogue it is very clear, meanwhile, that the plague is creeping more and more through the rest of the body of the Christian Coinmonwealth, and propagated afar. And, again, Nations alienated from the Church, are falling into wretchednesses growing greater day by day. And where Catholic Faith is extinct, or weakened, the border-road is laid towards a madness of théories ; and a ureed of Révolutions. For it is clear that no reins can last stro ng enough to curb the wild Spirits of social conspiracies, [indomitos perduellium spiritua compescerr, ] or to repress the flame oi unbridled license, among the masses of people, if that most chief, and grandest, power is contemned, that is held by the Vicar of Grod on earth. And so the commerce of human society, though already it has received A'ery rude shocks, stands in dread ; looking out for yet greater périls.
Because, then. the Church seeks to baffle her euemies, and to discharge her duty for the good of ail, she must do hard work, and stand on the breach ol' the battle-lield. The con test is tierce, and of varied marks. Ahvays, the protection of the Divine Honor, on one Jiand ; and, on the other, the eternal salvation oï souls, is in question. Vain the clcverness and skill of mon, were not lielps frorn Heaven t<> corne <K>wn fitting to the times.
Because in times of trouble and sorrow for the Christian Dame, it is a practice of long date to ask oi"
G od, by most effective prayers, as the aeeustomed refuge for labors and cares, that He would vouchsafe to His Church, that is in labor, strength for the conflict, and power for triumph.
Following, therefore, this renowned usage and custom 6Î Our Predecessors ; and knowing well that Grod is always the more ready to hear as rneu are more ready to do penance, and hâve the better will of reconciling themselves with Him, therefore; to help soûls, and to invoke Heavenly aid ; we Proclaim, in this Encyclical, an Extraordinary Holy .Jubilee, for the whole world.
Relying therefore on the mercy of Grod Omnipotent, and on the authority ofthe Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul ; we grant, out of that power ofbinding and loosing which the Lord has confered on us notwithstanding our unworthiness, , in the form of a G-eneral Jubilee to ail and each of the faithful of Christ, of either sex, a most full indulgence for ail their sins, if only they shall hâve fulhlled the conditions, those in Europe between the nineteenth of March présent, sacred to the memory of St. Joseph the Spouse of the Blessed Vigin Mary, and the first day of November, devoted to the memory of Ail the Saints ; and those outside of Europe, from the same nineteenth of March to the last day of the présent year, both days inclusive ; that those résident or visiting Rome shall twice hâve visited the Basilicas of the Vatican, the Lateran, and the Liberian ; and there prayed to Grod for some length ot time, according to Our intention, for the prosperity and exaltation of the Catholic Church and of this Apostolic See, for the extirpation of hérésies, and for the conversion of ail who are in error ; and that the same shall fast on strictly meagre food for one day outside of the days not embraced in the Lenten indulgence, or otherwise consecrated to a fast of
the strict rule, by precept of the Church ; and, moreover, having dnly confessed their sins shall receiye the Most Holy Sacraraent of the Eucharist, and in the title of alms shall give something to some pions work. Under which head we mention by name those Institntes whose fostering we hâve commended, not l'or the first tirae in this letter, to the chanty of Christians, namely, the Propagation of the Failli ; the Sacred Childhood of. Jésus Christ, and the Schools of th». East ; the providing and promoling of which, in distant and désert régions as necessity urges, is according to our mind a mostdesired object.
And ail others, wheresoever dwelling ontside of Home, mnst visit three chnrches or chapels ["tempfa"] twice , or, if there be only two chnrches thrice ; and if but one church, then six times, within the aforesaid space ol time ; and perform the other works above pointed ont. The churches to be visited are to be designated by the Ordinaries of Diocèses, their Vicars, or Administrators, or by their command ; and in delault of any such, by those having charge of soûls, in such districts. This Indulgence^ we will, may be applied, in the way of suffrage, also to soûls that hâve passed from this life united in love to Glod. We grant to ( )rdinaries, Chapters, and Congrégations, Secular and Regular, to Sodalities, Ooiifraternities, Universities or Collèges whatsoever, visiting the said churches in solernn procession, that they mav reduce the number of the visits to a lesser, àt their discrétion.
And to travellers by sea or land, we grant that, complying with the other duties prescribed, they can make their visits when at their own domicile, or ai any place where they are stopping, by visiting any principal, or parochial church six timea : and gain, as others, their Jubilee.
But to Kegulars of either sex, perpetuaïly cloistered ; and to ail othersT laies or clerics, seculars or régulais, hindered by imprisonment, sickness. or whatever other reasonable cause from fulfillingthe works above enumerated,. or some of them : We grant and indulge, tbat the Confessor raay commute thèse into other works of piety : or prorogue their lulfillment to another time? — not dis- .tant, — and the faculty for dispensing from Communion children not yet admitted to First Communion.
And farther7 to ail and to each of the faithful oi Christ laie or cleric, seculars or regulars, of whatever Order or Congrégation — even of those thaï claim a spécial right to be named — we grant the right that for this Jubilee [ad hune effectum], they may choose, as Confessor, any Friest whomsoever, of those approved to hear confessions of such. Nuns, Novices, and other women in cloisters ; — only the Confessor must be one having faculties for hearing confessions of nuns. But to Confessor», for this occasion only, and for the time of this Jubilee, we extend ail those same faculties that were granted by us in Our Apostolic Letter of February 15, MDCCCLXXIX, beginning :
"Pontifices Maximif — those thin^s excepted, however, which. we excepted in that Letter.
But, that the salutary fruits that we intend, by this sacred Jubilee, may more surely and fruitfully be obtained, let ail the Faithful strive that they may win the patronage of the G-reat M other of God, by a conspicuous homage and worship rendered her especially during this Jubilee time.
And this sacred Jubilee we give and commend to the guardianship and care of Saint Joseph, the most chaste Spouse of the Blessed Yigin Mary, whom Pope Pius IX., of glorious memory, declared Patron of the Church Uni versai ; and
whose heip we wish to be implored daily by Catholics in their supplications. Besides, we exhort ail to multiply pilgrimages, piously undertaken, to shrines of saints that, in varions régions, hâve been held in especial vénération ; among which, in Italy, stands pre-eminent, the House of Loretto, of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, consecrated hj the memory of highest mysteries.
"Whereupon. in force of holy obédience, we pre- , scribe, and command ail and every of Ordinaries of places, their Yicars and Administrators, and thèse failing, those having care of soûls, that, this Letter received copied, or even printed, each one shall take care to hâve it published in his jurisdiction, and shail designate the church, or churches to be visited by people, so far as possible, carefully prepared by preaching the word of Grod.
But that this présent Letter which may fail to reach every place, may corne more readily to the knowledge of ail, it is Our will that transcripts ofit, or eren printed copies, subscribed by any of Our Public Notariés, and with the seal of an y person in Ecclesiastical position, in any of thèse places, shall hâve the same validity as if this very Letter were shown or exhibited.
G-iven at Rome, at St. Peter's under the Ring of the Fisherman, March 12, An. MDCCCLXXXL, of our Pontificate the fourth year.
LEO, PP. XIII
2nd SERIES- No. 29.
CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY
Episcopal Résidence,
Ottawa, lst May, 1881
Dear Cooperators,
I exhort y ou to profit of the Jubilee, to draw your parishoners, with the help of G-od's grâce, to the practice of Christian virtues or to a greater perfection, to remind them of their duties towards the Church, which on ail sides is the object of the most obstinate attacks. We owe this good Mother love, respect and obédience and, when required, devptedness or assistance.
The Pope expects this from our zeal, he has manifested the désire thereof. It is difficult, no doubt, to operate, in ail soûls, a complète and gênerons rénovation. But, the Pope wills it, G-od wills it also. Hence, Dear Co-operators, AV«k should set to work. Jubilee year is one of grâce both for pastors and flock ; but for pastors, it ifl moreover a year of serions and constant labor. Know then, that Léo XIII, in granting a Jubilee, désire» that we earnestly and unceasingly exert
ourselves in snatching soûls from the devil, frorn sin, from evil habits, from lukewarmness, from négligence ; he means that we teach them to knovv, love and serve Grod and make them understand that they must absolutely become children of (lod and of the Charch. To attain this end, the work must be energetically undertaken and vigorously pursued.
No one could possibly remain inactive seeing that he has so great a duty to fulfil.
Undoubtedly, each one, in his heart, has already thought of realizing the desires of the Sovereign PontifT; each one has reflected on the most eiîicacious means of entering into his intentions.
It is well, however, that in the same diocèse, a certain uniiormity of means should be adopted by which a gênerai resuit may be obtained.
I therefore propose : — That a retreat be given in each parish and mission. In the parishes, that retreat should last eight or fifteen days and in the missions at least three days. This length of time is indispensable to the attainment of the proposed end, that is to say, the rénovation of soûls in fervor.
I shall willingly take charge of procuring preachers for ail the parish priests v\Tho will make me the request before the lifteenth of this month. The preachers will themselves choose the time for the exercises of the retreat. The demands this year being numerous, and the number of missionaries restricted, it would be impossible for them to satisfy ail thèse demands without the liberty of appointing the time most convenient for them to give them. If however, Dear Co-operators, you désire to hâve Rev. Fathers missionaries at one time rather than another, you can address yourselves directly to them. The important point is to hâve a retreat in your parish.
I would express the désire that the exercises of the Episcopal Visit should not replace the retreat
which I recommeiid, for as you see by the Itinerary, I will only remain one day in each place, excepting in a few new missions.
The parish priests will make it a duty to prépare their parishoners for the retreat and for the grâce of the Jnbilee.
They will give very clear explanations on the conditions required for the gaining of the indulgence.
It would be bénéficiai to make some instructions on the Sacrements of Penance and Holy Eucharist. 1 hère remind you of the obligation to confess little children that hâve attained the âge of discrétion, although not capable of being admitted to their fir.sl communion. Those who hâve ne ver been to confession would not satisfy the obligation of confession for the Jubilee, by going to confession only once, as the animal confession does not count for the confession of the Jubilee, the first confession they make, will be the annual one.
I beseech the parish priests not to forge t this injunction as also to see that thèse dear little children gain the indulgence of the Jubilee.
This same remark should be made on the subject of the Paschal communion and the first communion. Before communicating for the Jubilee, one must hâve fulfilled the obligation of the other communions.
Endeavor to be persuasive in exhorting those who hâve not performed their Easter Duty to acquit themselves of this important action without delay. This year, it should be understood, that you are particularly obliged to admit to their first communion ail children capable of being prepared thereto — I agaili repea>i : interest yourselvesseriously concerninu the Jubilee of little children. Their prayers will undoubtedly bemosi fervent and mitrht alone suffi ce to obtain that peace be restored to the Church. Strongly recommend your parishoners to pray with
ail possible dévotion, in the intentions of the Sovereigu Pontiif, when they make their visits.
The question is just now, of chaining down the evil spirit, of disarming divine vengeance and of drawing the people to repentance.
The fast and strict abstinence might be observed with advantage on one of the days of the retreat.
As to the alms, it being obligatory, I think it is necessary to facilitate it to the fait h fui. You know, Dear Co-operators, how much I hâve at heart the work of the seminary ; you are also aware there are other works which the Bishop is obliged to sus tain. The means of which I can dispose for thèse works are far, very far, from being sufncient to give them the necessary development. If the Jubilee alms were as abundant as they should be, doubtless the Work of the Seminary would be assured. There are upwards of one hundred thousand Catholics in the diocèse. Can we not suppose, that if pains are taken, at least one half of them will perforai the Jubilee ? Now, if .fathers and mothers are asked to give twenty-five cents and children ten, do you suppose that many would refuse giving this small sum of money ? Would there not be, on the contrary, a great numbcr who would give more ?
Allovv me then, Dear Co-operators, to entreat you to profit of the circumstance of the Jubilee to help me in assuring the Work of the Seminary by the means of the Jubilee alms. Choose the most efficacious manner you please to collect thèse alms, but I request you to take them up yourselves.
I appeal to your utmost good will. We cannot of course say to the faithtul : your alms should be so much, but we can urge them to give a certain sum for the benefit of a work, which is certainly the most important of the diocèse.
What more should I add to persuade you to make of this work your own work ? — one word only, and
this I say in ail sincerity : I hâve confidence in your good will.
Accept, Dear Co-operators. the assurance of m y entire devotedness.
J. THOMAS, Bp. of Ottawa,
[TINEEARY
— OF THE
